Caught on Tape

Published December 31st, 2010

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The City of Starke is facing a civil lawsuit after an attorney says his clients were beaten after surrendering. In 2008, officers from the Starke police department attempted to pull over a wanted man and his friend. That turned into a chase that led to a nearly ten hour trek into the Santa Fe River Swamp. The two men were eventually caught, and so was the apparent beatings. A helicopter from the Gainesville Police Department was flying overhead and caught the entire confrontation on video.
Watch closely and you can see a cluster of people approaching a single person. The cluster, according to attorney Jason St-Fleur, is Starke police and members of the department of correction. When they approach the first subject, Lemuel Cooper, you can see a dog attacking him.
Chief Barry Warren of Starke police says the suspect was resisting arrest and his k-9 was doing it's job. Soon after, the officers locate the second suspect Joshua Hutchinson and he is repeatedly struck.
Hutchinson and Cooper's attorney, Jason St=Fleur is asking that the officers involved be fired and that his clients receive an unspecified amount of financial compensation. If the City of Starke complies, then this will all blow over, if not, this case will go to trial.